Footwear



Dec. s, 1942. K w, BRAUN' 2,304,236

Filed June 15, 1940 T/VL TER 31e/1 UN,

Gum/mq t Patented Dec. s, 1942 UNITED STATES .PATENT or-Flclel Foo'rwEAa Walter Braun, Los Angeles, (lalii'.` Application June 15', 194e, serial No. 340,129

(Cl. :is-16) 2 Claims.

'I'his invention relates tothe art of making shoes and particularly to a novel form of shoe designed especially for lounge and sportswear. The invention may also apply to work shoes or boots which generally require and entail sturdy, moisture-proof construction.

An object of the invention is to provide a novel form of shoe or slipper construction in which the desired heel lift is incorporated in the form of a tapered wedge between the insole and the outsole and-in which the shoe or slipper is substantially fiat on the bottom of the outsole.

A further object of the invention is to provide in a shoe or slipper of the character described a novel type of bead of relatively large proportions in which no seam or fastening is visible, and a cover which encloses not only the cord ller or other ller for the bead but a cork or other heel lift as well as the insole, giving the appearance of a relatively deep intermediate member between the upper and outsole, running all the way around the shoe, whereby the visible portion of the shoe upper is substantially reduced in depth.

'I'he construction embodying the invention serves to increase the pleasing appearance of the shoe or slipper and to increase the utility thereof. In the case of a shoe or slipper of which the upper is made of fabric or soft leather, the application of the invention aords a heavy or rugged appearance without substantial increase in weight. The invention permits the use of fabrics, leathers or other materials of contrasting colors, thus the upper may be of one color and the bead of another, the decorative features of the shoe being thereby enhanced.

The same construction also imparts to the shoe or slipper certain pleasing. and' graceful contours and lines, and by increasing the symmetry and balance thereof adds greatly to the appearance of the finished article.

Certain advantages are derivable from the same construction which relate to manufacturing methods, for the bead encloses the out turned edges ofupper and insole, as well as the heel lift, thus not only covering the raw edges, but providing a pocket in which the lower portion of the upper is concealed.

Employment of the same construction permits the use of a relatively soft and flexible upper of a shoe or slipper which is generally desirable in lounge and sports wear, without losing the stand of the shoe, in that the ller cord or other filler and cover of the bead support and encase the upper. -Protection against scuillng of the soft toe oi' the shoe against hard objects with consequent bruising or injury of the foot of the wearer is also ailorded by the novel construction of the bead. The foot of the wearer is also insulated around the marginal edges of the shoe or s lipper providing additional warmth. j

The same construction possesses utility in heavy duty shoes, especially for use under conditions where water or moisture tendto enter around the sole. By using a water-prooi' fabric or leather or sheet rubber or synthetic rubber as the covering for the bead, particularly when combining with this an outsole oi.' rubber or synthetic rubber or other moisture-proof material, the shoe is provided witha relatively deep and thick water-proof sole and bead which will prevent moisture from reaching the yfoot o! the wearer.

In the drawing .Figure 1 is a side elevation of a shoe embodying the'invention, with vpart of the covering of the welt cut away.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the shoe.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary cross-section taken on the line 3- 3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal view similar to 'that of Figure 2 illustrating a modified construction ofthe invention in which a cushioning member is incorporated. l

The shoe comprises an upper I0 of any desired pattern and design, an insole II, a tapered neel I2, a covered bead I3, and an outsole I4.

The upper I0 is cut and formed to the desired style and size, having in mind that the lower edges of the upper will be turned outin the iinished shoe as illustrated in Figures 2 and 4. 'I'he particular style of upper illustrated is pureb1 an example by way of illustration and is in no sense l intended to limit the invention.

In the preferred method of manufacture, the next step is to stitch to the upper ata distance from the lower edge thereof a cover-strip for the bead I3. The cover strip numbered I5 which may be of fabric, leather, rubber, synthetic rubber or any other suitable material, may be cut and sewn in the form oi.' a loop or it may be cut and the ends left free to be later overlapped or united. The upper edge of the cover strip I5 is stitched as at I6 to the upper all the way around at a distance above the lower edge of the upper sumcient to provide a ledge substantially the diameter or thickness of ller I1 of the bead I3. While stitching of the upper and the cover I5 is generally preferred, these parts may be united by other means as for instance by cementing.

The next step is to secure the lower edge of the upper Ill to the insole II by turning out the lower edge of the upper I0 as illustrated and preferably stitching the lower edge of the upper to the outer edge or upper surface of the insole as illustrated at I8, although this joining may also be by other means as for instance, by cement.

Before the tapered heel member I2 is inserted the shoe is put on a last.

The tapered heel member I2 which is preferably though not necessarily made of resilient material such as cork or rubber, or felt, is inserted in the rear portion of the pocket formed by the cover I5. and between the outsole and the insole. It will be clear from the drawing that the cover I5 forms a pocket deeper at the extreme rear end of the shoe than at the toe for the purpose of accommodating the heel lift I2 and forming an edge covering around the entire shoe intermediate of the upper and the outsole.

It is to be observed that the heel lift I2 closely follows and conforms to the outer margin of the insole II and that the entire insole is large enough in pattern to extend beyond the foot outline of the upper and cooperate with the outturned edges of the upper to form a ledge or shelf.

The bead filler I'I is then inserted. This filler may, as in the form illustrated, comprise a cotton cord. It may be coated on the outside with cement to aid in retaining it in place when the cover I5 is pulled over and' down aroundit. The use of cement, however, is not essential. Moreover, any suitable material other than cottonl cord may be employed, so long as it fulfills the object of providing a relatively thick illler for that part of my novel bead construction seating on the welt ledge or shelf as illustrated. While I prefer to use a relatively soft resilient filler because it is more easily handled and contributes some warmth to the shoe, the invention `is not in any sense of the word to be limited thereto, 'and the use of any suitable substance, hard or soft, so long asit has sumcient flexibility not to impair the natural flexing desired of the sole of the shoe, is contemplated within the scope of the invention.

The lower edges of the cover strip I5 are drawn down and secured, preferably by cementlng, to the lower face of the heel lift I2 and the insole I I.

The outsole I4 which is of leather, rubber, or

any other desired material and preferably cut to conform to the outline fixed by the insole II, is cemented or otherwise secured to the lower face of the heel lift I2 and insole II and of course covers the marginal in-turned edges of the cover I5.

The particular materials employed. or the method of joining them, are not the essence of the invention. What I conceive to be the essence of my invention is a substantially iiat soled shoe or slipper embodying in combination an upper, a covered bead of the general character described, and a substantially flat outsole. While I have illustrated a tapered heel member I2 this is nota necessary part of my invention and may be omitted without departing from the actual substance of my invention. In that case, I would have a fiat soled shoe or slipper without any heel raise or lift, unless of course a conventional heel 'be added.

By the term bead as employed in this application I intend to include the filler and the cover, including that part of the cover which extends downwardly and encloses the insole and,`

where used-the heel lift. Thus the bead is illustrated in Figure 1 as the entire visible interme- -diate part of the shoe between the upper and the outsole. It would be an equivalent to use a bead made in one piece instead of withl a filler and cover.

In a modified form, as shown in Figure 4, I have included in the combination a cushioning element 20 which may be a pad of wool, felt,

cork, rubber, sisal or any other suitable sub- Iz or is brought up over the upper face or the" heel lift member, or, if desired, it may be omitted entirely from the heel portion of the shoe or slipper. Moreover, it would be an equivalent to make the heel lift member I2 of a single piece or a laminated structure, of wood, fiber, or a soft or resilient material, the full depth through the outsole and join the forward portion of the pad or cushion at about the end of the taper of the heel member. It would also be equivalent to construct the entire cushioning element and heel lift of a single piece of material such as cork, rubber or felt. The particular construction or material'of the combined heel lift and sole cushioning element are immaterial in the practice of the invention.

It will be seen that by my invention is provided a shoe or slipper of a flat sole type which allows a relatively deep and thick visible covered bead enclosing a portion of the upper of the shoe, which conforms in outline with the outsole, the upper of which nests inwardly and downwardly within the bead. The terms shoe, and slipper, are to be .regarded as equivalent in the description and claims.

While I have shown and described the preferred embodiment of my invention, I'do not wish to be limited to any of the details of construction and materials shown herein, except as defined in the appended claims.

Reference has been made to a substantially flat soled type of shoe. That is my preferred form. However, I conceive to be within the scope of my invention, a modified type having a heel or the outline of a heel which may be covered by the bead, or may be attached below the outsole. In other words, the fiat bottom of the shoe may be broken by an arch or a cut out, the bead being turned` in under the arch, or a heel may be attached outside of the bead, or a combination of both be utilized.

I claim:

l. In a shoe construction, an upper with the lower edgesturned outwardly, an insole secured to the out-turned edges of the upper forming a ledge 'circumventing the upper, a bead comprising a pocket of sheet material secured at its upper edge to the upper, a ller within the pocket seating upon the ledge, a tapered heel lift enclosed by the pocket, the lower edges of the pocket being turned inwardly below the heel lift and the insole, and an outsole lying directly against the inturned lower edges of the pocket.

2. In a shoe construction, an upper with the lower edges turned outwardly, an insole secured to the out-turned edges of the upper forming a ledge circumventing the upper, a bead comprising a pocket of sheet material secured at its upper edge to the upper, a filler within the pocket seating upon the ledge, a tapered heel lift and a cushioning sole imember enclosed by the pocket, the lower edges of the pocket being turned inwardly below the heel lift and the cushioning sole, and an outsole lying directly against the in-turned lower edges of the pocket.

. WALTER. BRAUN. 

